NEWS

Support for frontline essential workers and the local community during COVID-19 pandemic

During this difficult period with the ongoing situation around COVID-19, support is being provided to the local community of Elephant and Castle.

The Elephant and Castle Town Centre project through Multiplex, have provided over 30,000 items of PPE to help assist the nation’s frontline essential workers within the borough. Supported by its fantastic supply chain, they have provided masks, glasses, gloves, overshoes, overalls, hand sanitiser, wipes and surface spray. In the Elephant and Castle shopping centre car park 70 spaces have been offered to the NHS, as well as vacant retail space for storage.

Charity for single fathers, mothers and families, Dad’s House, has now opened a food bank in the Elephant and Castle Shopping Centre, to ensure struggling local residents can receive the essentials they need. The food bank opened on Tuesday 14th April and is in operation on Tuesdays and Fridays from 11am – 4pm. On Friday 24th April, Founder of Dad’s House, Billy McGranaghan said: “At today’s foodbank in Elephant and Castle we helped 125 people. Each person we aim to give 3 meals x 3.5 days so it works out as somewhere around 1312 meals. Since the launch of the foodbank we have helped a total number of 205 families over the 4 days of operation.” The charity is still looking for further volunteers and food donations, if you would like volunteer please get in touch on 07799 751 776 or to donate please visit their Just Giving page: www.justgiving.com/campaign/dadshouse

Following the launch of the virtual Elephant and Castle Community Hub, many are still participating in the weekly free activities on offer. The Community Hub has become a great resource for keeping both mentally and physically active and there are now 12 different activities and workshops available on the site. Teacher of the weekly Salsa Babyfit class and Social Dance workshops, Xihomara Granados, has since moved her classes online and is teaching Latin Dance Aerobics video workouts from her home via the Community Hub Facebook page and YouTube channel. Xihomara who has recently recovered from being in hospital with the virus has said “I’m so happy and proud to be working with Elephant & Castle Community Hub to support and help the local community, in order for the community to make a real difference to the quality of their life in these difficult times.”

A number of other initiatives to help during these exceptional times are also being explored. For further information please email us at info@elephantandcastletowncentre.co.uk.